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Labour would expand 'crown jewels' to include World Cup and Euro football qualifiers

Other sporting events that could be protected include the Ashes, which is only available on Sky

Oliver Wright
Sunday 25 January 2015 22:37 GMT
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Scottish football fans at Celtic Park. Labour said it wanted all national games to be free to air
Scottish football fans at Celtic Park. Labour said it wanted all national games to be free to air

England and Scotland qualifying matches for future World Cup and European Championship football tournaments could be broadcast on free-to-view channels, under Labour proposals to shake up UK broadcasting rights.

The party is understood to be considering plans to increase the number of sporting events included on the so-called list of “crown jewels” that have to be made available to viewers for free. The proposals could see the Home Nations’ qualifying matches for major international football tournaments reserved for terrestrial television.

Other sporting events that could be protected include the Ashes, which is only available on Sky. Labour might also move to protect the Open golf tournament which is free to view but could move to Sky later this year.

It is understood no final decision has been made but the policy could be announced in Labour election manifesto. If it happens, the move would represent the biggest overhaul of the law on television rights for major sports matches since 1992, when Sky controversially acquired the rights to the English Premier League.

However, it would further antagonise Labour’s relationship with Rupert Murdoch’s empire, which owns Sky and has been an enthusiastic buyer of sporting rights. It could also anger the governing bodies of many sports which rely on the money generated from selling broadcasting rights.

Sky Sports holds the rights to home and away qualifiers for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, involving the England. But that deal expires after the 2018 qualifiers.

Any move to bring the Home Nations’ football qualifying matches back to terrestrial television would also be popular in Scotland where Labour is facing a battle to hold on to its core vote from the SNP.

Labour’s Scottish leader, Jim Murphy, said viewing live major sports events such as the Open and international football “shouldn’t be a minority sport only for those who can afford satellite television subscriptions”.

“I want all Scotland national games to be shown on free to air terrestrial TV. Everybody in Scotland should be able to watch national team games without having to pay extra or go out to the pub,” he said yesterday.

The shadow Culture minister, Chris Bryant, denied that there was a definite “proposal on the table” to increase the number of events judged to be so-called crown jewels.

However, he admitted it was “possible that we might look at it” as part of plans for the manifesto.

EU rules allow member states the option to draw up a list of sporting or cultural events which are of major importance to society, to be broadcast on free-to-air television.

Ed Miliband is understood to be keen to follow the example of nations such as Denmark, Ireland and Belgium, all of which have their national football teams’ World Cup and Euro qualifying matches protected for network television.

* Jim Murphy may stand down as an MP at the general election to focus on the fight for Holyrood. Mr Murphy confirmed that he is Labour’s candidate to retain his East Renfrewshire seat in Westminster, but said he would tell his constituents “if the situation changes”.

However, he said he did not want to be an MP and First Minister of Scotland, suggesting that he may stand in May but then relinquish his seat if he is subsequently elected to Holyrood.

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